Dwarf sturgeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dwarf sturgeon |
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The dwarf sturgeon is a special type of fish also known as the little shovelnose sturgeon. Its scientific name is Pseudoscaphirhynchus hermanni. This fish belongs to the Acipenseridae family, which includes all sturgeons. You can find this unique fish in countries like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It might also live in Tajikistan.
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About the Dwarf Sturgeon
What Does It Look Like?
The dwarf sturgeon is a small fish. It can grow up to about 27 centimeters (10.63 inches) long. That's roughly the length of a ruler! The heaviest dwarf sturgeon ever recorded weighed about 51 grams (0.11 pounds). This is about the weight of a small candy bar.
How Long Do They Live?
The oldest dwarf sturgeon found was about six years old. They are known as potamodromous fish. This means they migrate only within freshwater rivers.
Special Features
One cool thing about the dwarf sturgeon is a special crease. This crease is on the outer edge of its pectoral fin. Pectoral fins are like the fish's "arms." This fish is also very sensitive to chemicals in the water.
Where Do Dwarf Sturgeons Live?
Their Natural Home
The dwarf sturgeon lives only in the Amu Darya river basin. This river flows through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It might also be found in Tajikistan. Long ago, these fish used to live all the way up to the Aral Sea.
What Kind of Water Do They Like?
These sturgeons prefer freshwater environments. Sometimes, they can also be found in slightly salty water. They live near the bottom of rivers, which is called the demersal zone. They like to live in places with a temperate climate. This means the water is not too hot and not too cold.
What Do Dwarf Sturgeons Eat?
Their Diet
The dwarf sturgeon has a simple diet. It mostly eats small invertebrates that live in the water. Invertebrates are tiny creatures without backbones, like small worms or insect larvae.
Why Are They Endangered?
Their Population Status
The dwarf sturgeon is a very rare fish. Sadly, their numbers are going down. Scientists have recorded that this species is critically endangered. This means they are at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Threats to Their Survival
Many things are hurting the dwarf sturgeon population:
- Dams: Large dams built on rivers can block their migration paths. This makes it hard for them to find food or places to lay eggs.
- Illegal Fishing: Sometimes, fishermen might catch them without knowing. This is called bycatch.
- Water Problems: Too much water is taken from rivers for farms. This leaves less water for the fish.
- Pollution: Water pollution is a big problem. This includes chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides from cotton farms. Waste from drainage also makes the water dirty.
Scientists need to do more studies to understand exactly how many dwarf sturgeons are left. This will help them protect these amazing fish.
Other Names for the Dwarf Sturgeon
The dwarf sturgeon has different names in various languages:
- Dwarf Sturgeon (English)
- Little Shovelnose Sturgeon (English)
- Little Amu-Darya Shovelnose (English)
- Lopatonos hermannův (Czech)
- Nibylopstons amu-daryjski (Polish)
- Pikkulapiosampi (Finnish)
- Амударьинский малый лопатонос (Russian)
- Лжелопатонос амударьинский малый (Russian)
- 短尾拟铲鲟 (Mandarin Chinese)
- 短尾擬鏟鱘 (Mandarin Chinese)
- 난쟁이철갑상어 (Korean)
